How long to get back to the fluidity I had 10 years ago?

[zill]

I started tennis at age 8 and never stopped until 20. After that had a 10 year break averaging one hit per year. I have started tennis again last year and has been hard getting back. My question is how long does it take (of constant practice say 3 times per week) until I regain the 'fluidity' and court sense I had at 20?

 

[OnTheLine]

If you are only 30, I would guess that 3X a week it is going to come back really quickly.
Unless you are really out of shape and are fighting fatigue, lack of conditioning, then it would take longer I would think.

I took 20 years off coming back at near 50. Playing 4-5 times a week, it took me about 3 months to feel my court sense and to feel what I believe you mean as "fluid", but its not the "fluid" of my 20s ... its a fluid of near 50! I was not in the greatest of shape, but not horrific when I started back. But 30 and near 50 are miles away from each other, 20 year break a little longer than 10, and I did not have as much playing time before hand either.

 

[djqsrv]

I'm 45 and coming back from abt a 10 year layoff. I just started back today. In fact I have the other return to tennis thread going right now. Today was my first day hitting the ball and I could feel some of the old strokes still there. For me it's all about fitness right now. I'm about 80lbs over my old playing weight and it's killing my movement. I videoed myself today and was blown away with how little my feet came off the ground compared to what my footwork used to look like.
Not sure where you are at fitness wise but that could be a big part of it.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

People have spent trillions of dollars toward this fruitless endeavor. You will never get back your 20's fluidity. However you can make it up by playing more intelligently, e.g. better anticipation, higher percentage tennis, strategy, etc.

 

[zill]

People have spent trillions of dollars toward this fruitless endeavor. You will never get back your 20's fluidity. However you can make it up by playing more intelligently, e.g. better anticipation, higher percentage tennis, strategy, etc.

Is that due to my 10 year break or true regardless of it?

I just remember timing the ball so much easier back then and shots came more naturally as well.

 

[zill]

If you are only 30, I would guess that 3X a week it is going to come back really quickly.
Unless you are really out of shape and are fighting fatigue, lack of conditioning, then it would take longer I would think.

I took 20 years off coming back at near 50. Playing 4-5 times a week, it took me about 3 months to feel my court sense and to feel what I believe you mean as "fluid", but its not the "fluid" of my 20s ... its a fluid of near 50! I was not in the greatest of shape, but not horrific when I started back. But 30 and near 50 are miles away from each other, 20 year break a little longer than 10, and I did not have as much playing time before hand either.

You think its better to play 4 to 5 short sessions rather than 3 long sessions per week?

I'm good conditioning wise probably even lighter than back then.

 

[OnTheLine]

@djqsrv as you are in your 40s like me and getting yourself back, I found that to start 3-4 short (90 minute max) sessions worked well. For the first few months I gave myself an on/off schedule so no two days in a row to let myself recover .... I have dropped a lot of weight in the last year, 35lbs before beginning tennis, another 20 after .... that is at least what worked for me ... everyone is different.

@zill since you are so young and have good conditioning, I think you can do what you prefer time wise. for me now, I like my 5-6 days a week of 1.5 - 2 hours each schedule. I think that long sessions on those days when things aren't that fantastic might be a bit frustrating.

In terms of timing, hit as many balls as you can, take a few clinics if your club has them, grab a ball machine if you like them. The more repetitions you get, the more that timing will come back. It definitely came back for me after a much longer break, but I didn't just jump into matches or playing sets ... I practiced first to get my "groove" back!

@TenFanLA I would love to have some of the aspects of my 20s back ... that fluidity is one of them! Ain't gonna happen. And I think you are right, we replace it with being way smarter!

 

[mcs1970]

I started tennis at age 8 and never stopped until 20. After that had a 10 year break averaging one hit per year. I have started tennis again last year and has been hard getting back. My question is how long does it take (of constant practice say 3 times per week) until I regain the 'fluidity' and court sense I had at 20?

TBH..how can anyone, but you give an answer to this? There is no rule of thumb answer. Also, why should it matter? It almost seems like you are frustrated and want a shortcut to regain your past level of play. The better thing to do is have fun,enjoy each day you get to play, keep improving, and not keep thinking about what you once were.

 

[RapidFail84]

TBH..how can anyone, but you give an answer to this? There is no rule of thumb answer. Also, why should it matter? It almost seems like you are frustrated and want a shortcut to regain your past level of play. The better thing to do is have fun,enjoy each day you get to play, keep improving, and not keep thinking about what you once were.

I'm in the same situation - I was probably a good 4.0 player in my mid-to-late teens, then gave the game away at the age of 19. At 32, I'm looking at getting back into the sport, I've been playing socially about once a month, which I've recently stepped up to most weekends. The biggest thing I'm missing from my old game is fluidity on my forehand - I'm reluctant to take a full swing for fear of making an unforced error.

 

[zill]

I'm in the same situation - I was probably a good 4.0 player in my mid-to-late teens, then gave the game away at the age of 19. At 32, I'm looking at getting back into the sport, I've been playing socially about once a month, which I've recently stepped up to most weekends. The biggest thing I'm missing from my old game is fluidity on my forehand - I'm reluctant to take a full swing for fear of making an unforced error.

How many times a week do you play these days? You are in a similar boat to me but I've been playing for a good year now. I know what you mean by fearing of making an unforced error. My question is how long do I have to wait until the shots come back i.e no need to fear making an unforced error on a full swing.

 

[RapidFail84]

How many times a week do you play these days? You are in a similar boat to me but I've been playing for a good year now. I know what you mean by fearing of making an unforced error. My question is how long do I have to wait until the shots come back i.e no need to fear making an unforced error on a full swing.

I'm only playing two or three times per month at this point but would like to be playing once a week - work and my young family dictate that I can't play anymore than that, unfortunately.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

Is that due to my 10 year break or true regardless of it?

I just remember timing the ball so much easier back then and shots came more naturally as well.

It's regardless of the 10 year break, even if you had kept playing.
Federer may have won AO this year but he is not moving like he did when he was 25. Neither is Britney Spears.

 

[zill]

It's regardless of the 10 year break, even if you had kept playing.
Federer may have won AO this year but he is not moving like he did when he was 25. Neither is Britney Spears.

Ok good to know that! So not entirely my fault for having stopped for 10 years.

Another question if you are able to answer, 20s are more fluid than 30s and 30s more fluid than 40s. My question is which decade decrease in fluidity is more 20s to 30s or 30s to 40s?

 

[OnTheLine]

I can think of a few exceptions at my club ... one particular 4.5 woman in her 40s, 3 kids, moves and plays like the juniors. She is an exception.

I also think that it levels off ... barring those with chronic injuries I think 40s to late-50s is about flat in terms of "decline" if the adequate fitness level is maintained.

 

[Deleted member 120290]

Ok good to know that! So not entirely my fault for having stopped for 10 years.

Another question if you are able to answer, 20s are more fluid than 30s and 30s more fluid than 40s. My question is which decade decrease in fluidity is more 20s to 30s or 30s to 40s?

I don't know enough to say one way or another. However I think the peak of fluidity is late teens to mid 20's.

 

[Lance L]

Don't even worry about it. Don't compare yourself to the past, take stock of where you are now, try to improve in small increments, and enjoy the process.
I played until I was 22, then took 20 years off. The process of coming back has been challenging and a lot of fun. Most of all, I had forgotten how good it feels to be in the sun, on a court with a racquet in my hand.

 

[OnTheLine]

@Lance L I agree with you 100%